New York crowds have seen all sides of Nick Kyrgios barring his best one at the US Open but fans may hope for more than a cranky cameo from the Australian firebrand this year.
By the time the final Grand Slam of the calendar rolls around, Kyrgios is usually tired, jaded and battling homesickness, which makes an early exit from Flushing Meadows seem more of a relief than disappointment.
Things may be different this year, though, as Kyrgios rounds off the most productive season of his rollercoaster career. His maiden Grand Slam final at Wimbledon was almost as surprising to the 27-year-old as to his compatriots, many of whom had long written him off as a threat at the majors.
Since losing to Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon decider, Kyrgios claimed the Citi Open title in a superb run of form before his nine-match winning streak was ended by Pole Hubert Hurkacz in Montreal.